Recent News

Cargo Space and Storage Rating:

Its average-size trunk, limited cubbies, and lack of folding rear seats make the Cadenza less flexible than the competition. Despite these shortcomings, it comes close to other full-size rivals in the category.

What’s New for 2018?

Since there have not been any changes to the Cadenza’s shape or interior packaging, we expect our storage testing regimen would provide similar results to the 2017 car shown in the illustrations below.

2017 Kia Cadenza

We fit six carry-on suitcases in the Cadenza’s trunk, which matches up with the competition. Kia fixed the rear seatbacks in an effort to enhance structural stiffness, so the second row only has a center pass-through for increased storage. The Nissan Maxima, with its foldable second row, is the ideal airport runner.

Test Results: Carry-On Luggage

Cargo Configurations

Cargo Volume Comparisons

Although the Kia’s trunk volume is midpack, it offers more volume than the Buick LaCrosse and Nissan Maxima. Both of those sedans offer folding rear seats, however, providing more a flexible cargo area.

Interior Cubby Storage

Why do we use ping-pong balls?

To determine the interior space available to stash travel essentials, we’ve devised a range of measuring protocols. We use six beverage containers ranging in size and shape to gauge cupholder accommodation. We stack, stuff, and arrange 9-by-14-by-22-inch cardboard boxes to quantify the number of airline-carry-on-size suitcases that will fit in a trunk or folded seat’s cargo space. To measure irregularly shaped gloveboxes, door pockets, and console bins, we fill each container with 1.5-inch-diameter ping-pong balls. It’s tempting to convert the number of spheres to a volume (cubic inches), but we resist that calculation because—as with the box of tissues, 12-ounce can of soda, or gallon of milk you might stash in these compartments—there are voids between the balls. Random packing (our procedure) nullifies approximately one-third of the available space. The negative space between the balls could theoretically be reduced to 25 percent of an irregular shape with precise stacking, but while we might be pedantic, we’re not crazy.